Pegboard



April 14, 1970 Filed Oct. 10. 1967 J. E. GREGORY PEGBOARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Jim/f 6043043 United States Patent 3,506,261 PEGBOARD Jack E. Gregory, Spokane, Wash., assignor to J. E. Gregory Co., Inc., a corporation of Washington Filed Oct. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 674,181 Int. Cl. A63b 9/00 US. Cl. 272-60 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pegboard for physical exercise, comprising an upright panel of rigid material having a pair of elongated upright slots and communicating branch slots within which a pair of pegs can be located along the length of each upright slot. Each peg extends forwardly from the panel and has an enlarged rear end portion held in place against the panel by a continuous back sheet. The board can be climbed by holding the two pegs and alternately moving one peg above the other into the successive branch slots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pegboards conventionally used for physical exercising purposes comprise a board or panel, usually of wood, with two rows of apertures within which a pair of removable pegs can be inserted. One climbs such a board by alternately removing one peg, lifting it to the next aperture in the row of apertures, inserting the peg into the next aperture, and pulling ones body upward, this process then being repeated with the other peg to climb the board using the hands and arms to lift ones body. Such a conventional peg board is not well adapted to use in public areas such as open playgrounds, public gymnasiums or even as school equipment. The wooden boards and pegs are subject to damage and vandalism and it is difiicult to eliminate the loss of pegs if such a board is left unattached.

Other devices for climbing purposes have been devised which do not require the removal of pegs. However, these utilize a cam or clamping arrangement whereby the downward pressure on the handle used for climbing results in that handle being held vertically while such pressure is exerted. Such devices are subject to wear and deterioration, and the more complicated clamping devices present even greater difliculties relating to vandalism than do the simple removable pegs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The basic concept of this invention is the utilization of a rigid panel with an elongated upright slot formed in the panel to receive at least one peg for climbing purposes. The panel is also provided with a plurality of branch slots spaced along the elongated slot within which the pegs are positioned to vertically hold the person climbing the board. One end of each peg is enlarged to prevent the peg from being pulled from the panel, and a backing sheet is provided when necessary to prevent the pegs from being pushed out the back of the panel. The apparatus can be mounted on pipe standards or directly against a wall. The exercising function of the apparatus is comparable to that achieved with a conventional board having removable pegs inserted in parallel rows of apertures.

It is a first object of the invention to provide a pegboard structure that is compatible with the requirements of public gymnasium and playground facilities. Particularly, the pegboard is designed to minimize the risk of damage due to vandalism and to provide a durable piece of equipment that can withstand unsupervised public use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a peg board with nonmovable pegs which matches and simulates Patented Apr. 14, 1970 the physical demands made upon a person using a conventional pegboard with removable pegs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pegboard of metal components which is light in weight and economical to manufacture.

These and further objects will be evident from the following disclosure, taken together with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. It is to be understood that this disclosure is only exemplary and is not intended to restrict the invention to any particular structural features.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the panel;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the panel;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the assembled pegboard;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevation view of the peg- 'board;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal structural view taken along line 55 in FIG. 3 at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a side View at the upper portion of the pegboard showing it mounted on a transverse pipe;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the unit mounted directly against a wall;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 in FIG. 8 at an enlarged scale.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The apparatus described herein comprises three basic components. The first is a panel 10 of rigid material. The second is a rear sheet 21 fixed to the panel and enclosing the interior thereof. The third is a peg 16, there being two pegs provided in each unit. The three basic components are assembled to provide a pegboard unit which can be climbed by grasping the pegs 16 and alternately moving each peg upwardly along the panel 10.

The physical structure of panel 10 in a first embodiment is best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. Panel 10 is shown as it would be cast from metal, although it could be made of any rigid material and might be fabricated or machined to provide the slotted guide configuration for pegs 16.

Formed along the panel 10 are two transversely spaced upright slots 11. As shown, slots 11 are vertical. Each slot 11 is elongated and extends along substantially the full length of the panel 10. The length of the slots 11 and the length of panel 10 is dependent upon the required climbing height for a particular application. A plurality of branch slots 12 are also formed in the panel 10. As shown, slots 12 are horizontal. Each branch slot 12 extends upwardly to the side of the respective upright slot 11 with which it communicates. The branch slots 12 of the upright slots 11 are staggered alternately along the length thereof. The separation between adjacent branch slots 12 again is dependent upon the requirements of the particular applicants. A board made for small children might have the branch slots 12 spaced more closely than a board designed for adult use.

The slots 11, 12 at each side of panel 10 are defined by parallel side Walls 13 which extend inwardly perpendicular to the front surface 15 of the panel 10. The side walls 13 of slots 11 are vertical. Side walls 13 of slots 12 are horizontal. The walls 13 terminate along coplanar rear edges 14 which are located inwardly from the rear edges 18 of the coplanar side walls 19 at the boundary of panel 10. The rear edges 14 are in a plane parallel to the plane of the front surface 15. The width of the up- 3 right slots 11 is constant along the length thereof and equal to the width of the branch slots 12.

Movably mounted within each slot 11 is a peg 16, shown to have a cylindrical configuration. One end of each peg 16 protrudes forwardly from the panel 10 so that it can be grasped by the hand of a person using the apparatus. The opposite or rear end of each peg 16 is provided with a radial enlargement 17, shown as having a circular cross sectional configuration. The width of the enlargement 17 is greater than the width of the slots 11, 12. The axial thickness of each enlargement 17 is slightly less than the separation between the plane of the rear edges 14 along the slots 11, 12 and the plane of the edges 18 at the rear of the panel side walls 19, as can be seen in FIG. With a cylindrical peg, the length of each branch slot 12 must be greater than the peg diameter so as to provide vertical support for the peg.

Secured to the rear of the panel is a retaining element in the form of a rectangular sheet, again of metal or other suitable material. The rear sheet 21 is fastened to the panel 10 by a plurality of screws 22 which engage enlargements along the panel side walls 19 and intermediate bosses 20 which protrude rearwardly from the panel 10 between the slots 11 as shown in FIG. 2. The connection between the panel 10 and the rear sheet 21 provides structural reinforcement for the center section of panel 10 which is substantially unsupported by the remainder of panel 10. Its forward surface is located adjacent to the enlargement 17 of each peg 16 so that the peg 16 cannot be pushed rearwardly from its position in the panel 10. It provides a smooth rear exterior surface on the unit to minimize accidental injuries to persons using the structure and encloses the interior of panel 10 to minimize vandalism.

The assembled unit shown in FIG. 3 can be mounted in any desired manner. The unit generally is mounted with the front surface 15 vertical and with the lower end of panel 10 at a height at which the pegs 16 can be reached by one standing on the floor or ground. Integral mounting blocks 23 are shown formed in the panel 10 at the four corners thereof. A pair of apertures 24 formed through the blocks 23 provide readily available mounting of the unit by means of U-bolts 25 which can engage a transverse pipe 27 at the top and bottom of the unit (FIG. 6). When mounted against a wall, lag bolts 26 can be used through the apertures 24 to directly engage the wall 28 (FIG. 7), or any suitable intermediate mounting arrangement can be utilized.

In actual use, the panel 10 has been cast of aluminum alloys for light weight and corrosion resistance. The rear sheets 21 can be any desired aluminum or steel alloy having sufiicient thickness to provide structural stability to the center portion of panel 10. The pegs 16 are pref: erably made of steel and are preferably plated or otherwise smoothed to prevent the surface of a peg from gouging the softer aluminum surfaces along the slots 11, 12. If desired, grips similar to those used on the handle bars of bicycles can be placed on the forward ends of each peg 16 to facilitate the grasping thereof.

With the apparatus as disclosed, one simply grasps the two pegs and alternately hangs by one peg while swinging the other upwardly to the successively adjacent branch slots 12. With the branch slots 12 directed inwardly toward the center of panel 10 as shown, the weight of ones body assists in inserting the moving peg 16 in the succeeding branch slot following upward movement. The body of the user will swing slightly toward one side, away from the peg that is being moved. This assists in pulling the peg 16 toward the center of panel 10, so that the peg will automatically be inserted into the branch slot 12 when it is intersected by the moving path of the peg 16. This permits the pegs 16 to be inserted onto the holding slots without additional exertion over that required to lift the peg 16. The exercise function is therefore solely dependent upon ones ability to lift ones body to the successive height of the pegs 16 as the pegs are repositioned in successive branch slots 12. Because the slots 13 are horizontal, the pegs 16 will not be accidentally dislodged while ones weight is being pulled downwardly along the front of panel 10. No peg 16 will be freed to move upwardly or downwardly until the user releases the downward pressure exerted on it. This requires positive intention on the part of the user and eliminates the possibility of accidental release of a peg. Accidental release is possible in prior peg boards where a peg is mounted in an aperture and is removable, either by accident or due to wear of the peg or of a particular aperture.

Modifications can obviously be made in the structure shown. The slots 11 and 12 need not be vertical, so long as they are upright so that one is performing a lifting exercise on the structure. The slots 12 need not be horizontal, and can be directed angularly downward toward their inner ends if desired. The slots 11- and 12 can be machined in a solid panel structure, providing a T-shaped groove configuration to accommodate the rear enlargement 17 of each peg 16. The unit might be made of other materials, articularly plastics, reinforced resin structures or wood. Furthermore, the manner of mounting the unit can obviously be changed to accommodate a particular installation.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8-10. This structure utilizes a modified panel 10:: having a single upright slot 11a at the center. Branch slots 12a and 12b extend to the respective sides of slot 11a. The slots 12a, 12b are staggered along the length of slot 11a. The two pegs 16 are identical to those described above, are being utilized at one side of the apparatus and the other being utilized at the remaining side such as to permit one peg 16 to pass the other along slot 11a. The remaining structure is identical to that described above and is designated by identical reference numerals in the drawings.

Use of the modified peg board is somewhat more diflicult than use of the first embodiment. One must grasp the two pegs 16 and move them alternately upward and into the branch slots 12a, 12b. Each peg 16 will always be placed at the same side of slot 11a so that the users hands will not cross. Additional exertion is required to push the pegs 16 outward of slot 11a against the weight of ones body resulting in greater development of muscular strength and coordination.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an upright peg board having a pair of manually movable pegs of a size and material to support a person suspended thereby for physical exercise purposes:

a rigid upright panel having a front surface and at least one elongated upright slot formed therein through said surface intersecting a plurality of branch slots spaced from one another along the length of the upright slot, and extending through said surface to the side of the upright slot, said slot each having a predetermined width;

said pegs being slidably mounted in said slots for movement along the upright slot from one branch slot to another;

one end of each peg being extended outwardly from the front surface of said panel to permit grasping of the peg by a person suspended therefrom;

said pegs being slidably engageable with said panel to prevent the pegs from being pulled from the panel;

and means mounted to said panel for selectively fixing the panel with the front surface thereof in an upright orientation.

2. An apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said panel further comprises:

a rear surface located rearwardly of the pegs and extending along and across the slots formed in said panel to prevent the pegs from being pushed from said panel.

the remaining end of each peg being circular in cross section and having a diameter greater than the width of said slots.

6. An apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said panel has a pair of said upright elongated slots formed therein parallel to one another, each having a plurality of branch slots extending to the side thereof;

each upright elongated slot having a single peg slidably mounted therein.

7. An apparatus as set out in claim 6 wherein the branch slots of said upright elongated slots extend inwardly toward one another, the branch slots extending to the side of one upright slot being staggered with respect to the branch slots extending to the side of the remaining up right slot along the respective lengths thereof.

8. An apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said panel has a single upright slot formed therein and wherein said branch slots extend alternately to opposite sides of said upright slot along the length thereof.

9. An apparatus as set out in claim 8 wherein the length of each branch slot is such as to permit a second peg to pass a branch slot having a first peg positioned therein.

10. In an upright peg board having a pair of manually movable pegs of a size and material to support a person suspended thereby for physical exercise purposes:

an upright panel of rigid material having a plane front surface, said panel having a pair of upright elongated slots formed through the front surface thereof and transversely spaced from one another and a plurality of transverse branch slots in open communication with each upright slot, the branch slots extending to the side of each upright slot, all of said slots having an equal and constant width along their respective lengths;

said pegs being slidably mounted in the respective upright slots for selective placement in the branch slots extending in communication therewith, each peg having one end protruding forwardly beyond the front surface of the panel and each peg further having an opposite end of enlarged Width recessed behind the slot in which it is located, the width of said opposite end of each peg being greater than the width of the slots;

and means mounted to said panel for selectively fixing the panel with the front surface thereof in an upright orientation.

11. An apparatus as set out in claim 10 further comprising:

a removable retaining element fixed to the rear of said panel including a forwardly facing plane surface along said slots spaced rearwardly adjacent to the rear ends of said pegs.

12. An apparatus as set out in claim 11 wherein said slots are defined by inner walls perpendicular to the front surface of said panel and terminating in a rear edge lying in a plane parallel to the front surface of said panel;

said rear edge being spaced from the forwardly facing plane surface of said retaining element by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of said opposite ends of said pegs.

13. An apparatus as set out in claim 10 wherein each peg is cylindrical, the enlarged opposite end thereof being extended perpendicular to the axis thereof.

14. An apparatus as set out in claim 10 wherein the upright slots are defined by vertical walls in said panel.

15. An apparatus as set out in claim 10 wherein the upright slots are defined by vertical walls in said panel;

the branch slots being defined along the length thereof by horizontal walls.

16. An apparatus as set out in claim 10 wherein the branch slots in communication with the respective upright slots extend inwardly therefrom in the area between the upright slots.

17. An apparatus as set out in claim 10 wherein the respective branch slots of the two upright slots are staggered alternately along the length thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 384,707 6/1888 Nash 116-135 603,514 5/1898 Schneider 116-435 3,156,465 11/1964 Jacobi 272- FOREIGN PATENTS 785,651 5/ 1968 Canada. 162,249 8/1905 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES Louden Recreation Equipment, F. E. Porter Corp., Dec. 28, 1948, page 23.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner R. W. DIAZ, Assistant Examiner 

